Manufacture of materials resistant to or active against microorganisms



Patented Oct. 12, 1948 MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS RESISTANT TO OR ACTIVE AGAINST LIICBOOBGAN- ISMS Erich Boelnn, Cardiff, Wales, assignor of one-halt to Nipa Laboratories, Limited, Cardiil', Wales, a company of Great Britain and Northern Ireland No Drawing. Application November 27, 1943, Be-

rial No. 512,062. In Great Britain November Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of materials resistant to or active against micro-organisms.

The process of this invention is applicable to the manufacture of food and provisions, technical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations and for the manufacture of antiseptic and disinfecting preparations.

In accordance with this invention there is incorporated in any stage of the manufacture of material liable to micro-biological decomposition or in the base or substratum of a disinfecting or antiseptic preparation an ether of ethylene glycol (sym. dihydroxyethane) in which one of the hydroxyl groups is etherified by an aryl radical or a mixture of such ethers or a mixture of one or more of such ethers with the monomethylether, mono-ethylether, mono-propylether or mono-butylether of ethylene glycol or mixtures of these.

These ethers possess the formulae:

CHI-OH CHr-OR in which R may be an aryl or aralkyl group. The aryl groups may be phenyl, naphthyl and similar groups and they can contain further substituents such as halogen, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl or additional hydroxy groups, or alkoxy groups. By means of them it is possible to prevent eiiectively the development of fuifi i and of many bacteria as well as the fermentation of yeast in different n'i'aterials containing carbohydrates, and these ethers have also a killing efiect on micro-organisms within a short time.

Amongst the ethers that may be used, mention may be made of ethylene-glycol 0-, m-, p-chlorophenyl ether, ethylene-glycol l-naphthyl ether,

ethylene-glycol phenyl ether and ethylene-glycol benzyl ether.

These substances are applicable themselves or after their incorporation with inert powders, e. g. talcum, or in the form of ointments, or in solutions, or in suspensions. Furthermore, mixtures with other similarly active substances are possible.

In a charge of 0.2 gram of pressed top i'ermentation distillery yeast with 25 cc. of 1 percent glucose solution, the addition of 0.03percent of ethylene-glycol-p-chlorophenyl ether or 0.05 percent of ethylene-glycol-o-chlorophenyl ether prevents all fermentation at 37 C. for 24 hours.

The satisfactory disinfecting action of the various ethers is clearly shown by determining the concentrations at which development of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacterium coli, Bacterium paratyphosus, Bacterium pyocyaneus, Salmonella typhae and similar micro-organisms in a distilled water or a normal saline solution, or a nutrient medium (Suspension method) or dried on bastiste slips (Carrier method) is completely suppressed.

The following concentrations were found to be eiiective:

- Phenyl ether of ethylene glycol 1.0% kills within 30 mins. B. pyocyaneus in distilled water (Suspension method). 1.2% kills within 5 mins. E. coli in distilled water (Suspension method). 1.2% kills within 5 mins. B. cell in ordinary nutrient broth (Suspension method). 1.2% kills within 5 mins. Sal. typhus in serum broth (Suspension method).

1.5 0 kills within 5 mins. 8. cola in Ringers sol. (Suspension method).

1.5 0 kills within 30 mins. Staph. aureus in distilled water (Suspension method).

1.5% kills within 5 mins. B. paratyphosur in distilled water (Suspension method 1.5% kills within 5 mins. Sal. typhae in distilled water (Suspension method).

1.6% kills within 5 mins. Staph. aureus in distilled water (Suspension method).

1.6% kills within 5 mins. B. cola in distilled water (Suspension method).

1.6% kills within 3 mins. Staph. aureua dried on batiste slips in distilled water.

1.0% lilllgyithin 5 mins. B. pyocyaneua in N. saline sol. (Suspension met 0 2.0% kills within 5 mins. Staph. aureus in nutrient broth (Suspen sion method).

Para-chlorophenyl ether of ethylene glycol 0.5% kills within 5 mins. B. culiin distilled water (Suspension method).

0.5% kills within 5 mins. Staphaureus in distilled water (Suspension method).

0.5% kills within 5 mins. B. pyocyaneus in distilled water (Suspem sion method).

0.5% kills within 5 mins. E. coli dried on batiste slips in distilled Orthocresyl ether of ethylene glycol 0.6% kills within mins. Staph. aureus in Ringer's solution (Suspension method). 0.6% kills within 5 mins. E. coli in Ringer's solution (Suspension method). 0.6% kills within 5 mins. B. pyocyaneus in Ringer's solution (Suspension method).

The antiseptic action is increased when, instead of the individual ethers of ethylene glycol, mixtures thereof with one another, or with other glycol ethers are employed. In particular it is found that the bactericidal power of the mixed ethers, which is essential for the disinfectant action, is considerably greater than that of the individual com nents.

The followin g examples illustrate how the invention may be carried out in practice, but it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the details given in these examples:

Example 1 2.5 parts by weight of monophenyl-ether oi ethylene-glycol are mixed with 7.5 parts by weight of glycerol or ethyleneglycol. To this mixture 40 parts by weight oflanoline and 50 parts by weight of Vaseline (soft paraflln) are added. The ointment obtained is applicable for disinfectant purposes. Instead "of the phenyl ether of ethylene glycol, the butyl, propyl or benzyl ethers, in the appropriate concentration can be used.

Example 2 A mixture of 1 part by weight of mono phenyl ether of ethyleneglycol and one part by weight of mono n-butyl ether of ethyleneglycol, is added to 98 parts by weight of a solution of albumin and protects the same from any deterioration caused by micro-organisms.

Example 4 A 3% glucose-containing gelatine to which 1 percent by weight phenyl or 0.4% p-chlorophenyl mono ether of ethyleneglycol is added, is freely exposed to the infection of moulds, putrefaction bacteria and other ubiquitous micro-organisms. The gelatine (gel.) remains free from any infection.

Example 5 Example 6 A mixture of 4 parts by weight of mono n-- butyl ether and 1 part by weight of mono phenyl ether of ethyleneglycol is incorporated into 95 parts by weight of starch paste. This mixture is protected from putrefaction, even if it is stored in a wet chamber. If such a concentrated paste is diluted with water, even the diluted materials remain preserved for a long period.

Example 7 Two parts by weight of the mono fi-naphthyl ether of ethyleneglycol are mixed with 98 parts by weight milk-sugar. This mixture kills pathogenic bacteria, for example, Streptococcus pyogenes, after a few minutes. For the same purpose a mixture of ethyleneglycol a-naphthyl ether and of ethyleneglycol fi-naphthyl ether, each 0.75 part by weight, can be used, as well as a mixture 010.5% of each 010- and?- chlorophenyl ethers of ethyleneglycol.

Example 8 Amixtureoi'tpartsbyweightotthemono n-butyl-ether of ethyleneglycol plus one part by weight of the mono phenyl ether of ethyleneglycol, in which 0.5 part by weight of the mono p-chlorophenyl ether of ethyleneglycol is dissolved, and which is diluted with 97 parts by weight of water. itsm applicable for disinfectant purposes of all Example 9 An addition of 0.5% of the mono nhenylether or 0.2% otthe p-chlorophenyl ether of ethyleneelycol to rubber-latex protects from moulds not only the latex but also the rubber produced as usualby coasulation or this latex.

Example 10 A solution of 2% of the mono n-butyl 2% of the phenyland 0.2% of the mono para-chlorophenyl ethers of ethyleneglycol in sterile water is prepared for the sterilisation and preservation of catgut.

Example 11 For the sterile keeping of instruments and apparatus a mixture of 2% of mono phenyl and 2% of the mono n-butyi ethers is applicable.

Example 12 For the rapid sterilisation of instruments, a

. mixture of 50% each of the mono phenyl and mono n-butyl ethersis used. The instruments are heated in this mixture for about 5 minutes at C. after being mechanically cleaned.

It will be seen from the above that it requires a minimum amount of from about 0.03 to 2.5 per cent by weight of the described aryl ethers of ethylene glycol to retard or prevent micro-biological decomposition ofa material impregnated therewith What I claim and desire to-secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The manufacture of materials resistant to micro-biological decomposition which comprises.

the mono p-chlorophenylether oi ethyleneglycol in a material liable to micro-biological decomposition.

2. A material normally subject to microbiological decomposition but made resistant to such decomposition by having, incorporated therein from about 0.03 to 2.5 per cent by weight of an ether of ethylene glycol in which one .of the hydroxyl groups is etherified by a chlorinated phenyl group.

3. Materials normally liable to micro-biological change but rendered resistant thereto by containing from about 0.03 to 2.5 per cent of an ether of ethyleneglycol in which one of the hydroxyl groups is etherified by an aryl radical together with a small but effective amount of a member of the group consisting of the methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl mono-ethers of ethlyeneglycol.

4. In the manufacture ofmaterials resistant to micro-biological decomposition, the process which comprises incorporating in a material subject to micro-biological decomposition from about 0.03 to 2.5 per cent oi? a mono-chlor phenyl ether of ethyleneglycol.

micro-biological decomposition which comprises incorporating m a. material liable to micromethyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl mono-ethers of ethylene glycol, the quantity or said ethers'incorporated in said material amounting to from about 0.03 to 2.5 per cent by weight.

ERICK BOEHM.

Bummer-2s crren Number UNITED STATES PATENTS I Name Date Schoeller et a1 Aug. 21, 1934 Dehlen eta] Oct. 30, 1934 Kyrldes Sept. 24, 1934 Bruson Mar. 30, 1937 Epstein et a1. July 12, 1938 Mills et a1. Oct. 25, 1938 Coleman et al May 16, 1939 Steindoril? et al Sept. 3, 1940 k Doelllng Sept 16, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date flle of this patent:

Great Britain Dec. 15, 1944 

